Ministry Of Sound is still one of the most famous nightclubs in the world. Opened in 1991 to primarily showcase American house music, it was one of the first clubs to bring cats such as David Morales, Roger Sanchez and Tony Humphries over to the UK before expanding its remit as the ‘90s unfolded.

As such, the amazing soundsystem in The Box has hosted the best in trance, techno, house, drum & bass, UK garage and more, while the rigorously-sourced compilations it has produced have landed in every city on the globe.

There was a time when its success earned Ministry somewhat of a backlash, with more discerning clubbers complaining that it was ‘full of tourists’, but events in recent times prove it’s undeniably got its mojo back: the legendary DJ Harvey on a Dolby Atmos soundsystem all night long; the He.She.They night helmed by Maya Jane Coles that promotes diversity and inclusivity regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation; the on-point Very Very Wrong Indeed nights; providing a home for long-standing promotions like The Gallery (celebrating its 23rd birthday this month) and Bugged Out! to newer nights like the Defected-affiliated Glitterbox.

Saved from closure a few years ago, Ministry still proudly occupies the same premises in Elephant & Castle in southeast London (an old bus depot) that it has since the beginning, and is still an amazing place to have a full-blown clubbing experience.

Ministry of Sound first opened its doors way back in September 1991. Inspired by New York’s cavernous house venues, 103 Gaunt Street was a derelict bus garage in south London – an area that, at the time, was more infamous than famous. The first night had no alcohol, three flashing lights, moody security and, unless you knew the names of at least half-a-dozen Chicago house DJs, you were never going to get through the menacing, prison-like, gates.

Despite these eccentricities, the night was a success and within a matter of weeks word had spread that something special had landed smack bang in the middle of London’s club scene. This was the first club dedicated to house music, the first club to pick up the gauntlet laid down by the second summer of love and, most importantly, the world’s first nightclub with a room built purely for exceptional sound quality.

To this day, sound is still at the forefront of everything that Ministry of Sound stands for. As it helped spread dance music’s popularity around the world, you can experience the essence of what Ministry of Sound does but there’s nothing quite like standing in the middle of the club’s main room, The Box, and hearing the award winning soundsystem in full swing.